Feeding apparatus for straightening machines



Oct. 11, 1949. D. J. PERDUE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING MACHINES Filed Jan. 24, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

EE Q? ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1949., D. J. PERDUE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Filed Jan. 24, 1947 ATTORZVE'Y DWIGHT J PEREZ/E BY II 1 hnun O O Ill l lllllhwv III I a fi l I I l I l I! h m mm m we 7 Rm L Oct. 11, 1949. D. J. PERDUE 2,484,729

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING MACHINES Filed Jan. 24, 1947 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. TJFERBUE ATTORNEY 00L 11, 1949. PERDUE 2,484,729

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING MACHINES Filed Jan. 24, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :J 40 VI 33 :1 34,

32 LNI/ENTOR.

DW/GHT JPE DUE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1949 i FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING MACHINES p Y Dwight J. Perdue, Canton, Ohio, asslgnor to m!- 1 public Steel Corporation, Cleveland, corporation of New Jersey Ohio, a

Application January 24, 1947, Serial No. 724,143

14 Claims. (Cl. 153-50) This invention relates to the art of manufacturing pipes, tubes, rods, bars or other similar work pieces, and particularly to feeding, apparatus for-feeding or advancing such work pieces to a straightening machine; In the manufacture of elongated cylindrical work pieces it is customary to :straighten "all bent or crooked work pieces bypassing them through a straightening machine The work pieces requiring straightening are placed upon a serving or entry table and, advanced either under power or by hand to' the straightening machine. The

straightening machine includes pairs of rolls,-

some "of which are power-driven. ,Each work piece is seized and advanced through the machine as it is being straightened. Immediately upon seizure the work piece is rotated, with the result that a crooked or bent bar is given a whipping or lashing action. f-If an operator has advanced the work piece into the throat of the straightening machine, he must remove his hands from the work piece very quickly upon seizure of the work piece by the straightening machine .so as to avoid injury to himself.

It is among'the' objects of the present invention to provide apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical workpieces to a straightening machine which obviates the necessity of an operator using his hands to accomplish this operation.

Another object of the invention is to providea feeding apparatus capable of gripping a worknism from engagement with the work piece so as to avoid damage to the feeding apparatus by the whipping or lashing about of a crooked work piece being rotated by the straightening machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a feeding apparatus having fluid operated means for reciprocating a carriage between a serving table and-a straightening machine, and fluid operated grips or jaws for seizing a work piece and for releasingthe same when the work piece hasbeen engaged in the throat of a straightening machine, in conjunction with an electrically-operated system for controlling the operations of all of such fluid-operated means.

A further object is to provide in an electrisally-controlled system as aforesaid, means for automatically effecting the release of a work piece which is being fed by the feeding apparatus immediately uponrotation being impar't ed to; the work piece by its seizure in the throat of a straightening machine or other machinel having rolls for imparting rotation to the work.

piece.-

'Another object is to provide in a system of the character described fluid operated gripping" means which may be translated laterally under the control of an operator for bringing the leading end of the work piece into registry with the axis of the throat of a straightening machine. I

Other objects of the present invention will hereinafter appear in the accompanying speciflcation' and claims and are demonstrated by the drawings which show by way of illustration operative parts in work-gripping position just prior to engagement of the work by the rolls of the straightening machine which is schematically illustrated;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the forward end of the feeding apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the feeding apparatus showing the carriage in its forward position; a

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluid operating mechanism and controlling circuits.

Referring to the drawings, I is a mobile mount or carriage which travels between a feeding or serving table and a straightening machine 2. The carriage includes a box frame having horizontal upper and lower walls 3 and 4, respectively, and a vertical forward wall 5 connecting between vertical side walls 6 and I. The frame is carried by wheels 8, 9, l0 and II which bear upon a pair of rails i2 and I3. The rails; are secured to a bed plate ll, which in turn is secured tov end rests upon a pair of laterally extending sleepers l5 and it. These sleepers may be fastened to a concrete .foundation or flooring by lag screws,-such as I! and ii.

The carriage is moved Over its rails under the action of a fluid pressure cylinder I! having trunnions 20 and 2| extending from opposite sides and supported -by brackets 22 and 23. These brackets are rigidly fastened on the bed plate l4. A piston rod 24, extending from the piston within the fluid pressure cylinder, is attached to the carriage frame by means of a pin 25. The operation of the fluid pressure cylinder for moving the carriage forward and backward is controlled by a 4-way valve 26, Fig. 5, which is in turn controlled by an electrical system which will hereinafter be described more fully. The fluid pressure system herein embodied employs air cylinders, but it is to be understood that the cylinders may be operated by liquid, if desired.

The work grippin mechanism is mounted on the box frame of the carriage. For accomplishing such support a beam or plate -2I is bolted to the box frame. Aswell shown in Figs. 1 and 4, this beam supports vertically extending brackets 23 and 23 which are welded to the beam.

Brackets 23 and 23 flank a channelled member having parallel grooves 33 and 3| within which the rafls of a sliding block or slide 32 of the work gripping device are guided for movement laterally to the direction of movement of the carriage I. Sliding block 32 is attached to a piston rod 33 which is actuated by the piston of a fluid operated cylinder 34.

The cylinder 34 is mounted on brackets 35 and 36 which are bolted to a plate 31. This plate is supported upon beam 21 by means of upstanding webs 33 and 33 which are welded to the plate and the beam.

The sliding block 32 hasslidingly mounted at its inner end ajaw 43 constituting a work gripping member. The jaw has a gripping surface 4|, which may be milled or otherwise roughened for assuring frictional engagement with the work.

. Jaw 40 is mounted in a guiding slot 42 and is normally supported at its lower end by a ledge 43 extending horizontally from the lower surface of sliding block 32. The relationship of the jaw to the sliding block 32 1s such that the jaw can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sliding block in a. plane parallel to the axis of the work. The jaw movesupwardly within this slot under the action of a rotating work piece when it is seized in the throat of a straightening machine, as will be evident from the following description. A stop 44 is provided to prevent complete ejection of the jaw from within its guiding slot.

Directly opposite from the sliding block 32 and gripping member 43, there is a second slide or sliding block 45 carrying a complementary gripping member in the form of a jaw 46. also having a milled gripping surface for engaging an opposite side of the work. The jaw 46 is mounted for movement in a. plane parallel to the plane of movement of jaw 40, and is guided by a groove 41 disposed at the inner end of the sliding block 45. The jaw is normally held in a raised position by means of a spring 48 whose upper end is engaged by a washer 49 fastened at the end of a rod 50 which is attached to the jaw. The lower end'of the spring rests upon a bracket A ledge 52 extending horizontally from the lower surface of sliding block 45 serves to limit excessive downward travel of the jaw. Pairs of brackets 53 and 54, fastened to beam 21,'are welded to a second channelled member 55 which is provided with horizontal grooves for guiding the sliding means of vertically disposed webs 53 and 53. The piston rod 60 of the air cylinder is attached to slide 45.

As explained hereinabove, the carriage travels between the serving or entry table and the straightening machine. This travel is'controlled through the operation of cylinder l3. Work pieces which are to be straightened or otherwise rolled, are usually individually delivered on skids to the entry or serving table. The entry table may be in the form of a stationary trough or may be of a type of table which is provided with rollers normally located below the tops of the skids and arranged to be elevated to a position above the skids. If the table is of the latter type, after a piece of work is placed above the rollers, the table rollers are raised and the work is then advanced on the rollers into a position where it can be seized or gripped by the gripping members of the feeding apparatus. In this position the work is held at the level of and in line with the throat of the rollers of the straightening machine. In Fig. 1 there is diagrammatically illustrated the last or discharge roller SI of a feed or entry table. A suitable entry table is shown and described, for example, in United States Patent No. 1,738,340, granted December 3, 1929.

For receiving work from the entry or serving table the carriage is moved to its most rearward position along rails l2 and I3 under the action of cylinder iii. In this position cylinders 34 and 53 are operated to retract the slides 32 and 45, if not already retracted. The leading end of the work is then gripped by jaws 40 and 46 as slides 32 and 45 are operated by fluid pressure in cylinders 34 and 56. The operator then lowers the serving table and the work rests upon the skids with its leading end supported by the jaws. With the work held between the jaws, the carriage is advanced from its most rearward position towards the straightening machine 2 under the action of cylinder l9. The leading end of the work is thereby thrust into the throat of the rolls of the straightening machine, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Should the lead end of the work be to one side or the other of the center line of the threat, the

block or slide 45. A fluid pressure cylinder 56,

operator can move the work laterally by controlling the pressure in cylinders 34 and 56 in accordancewith the amount and direction of movement required to make the correction desired. 7

The straightening machine 2 may be of any ordinary construction and include driven rolls 32 and 63, respectively associated with idler rolls 54 and 65. These pairs of rolls, together with a pressure roll 66, straighten the work pieces as they are successively drawn through the straightening machine by the combined action of the rolls.

, Straightening machines of this general character are well known and in common use.

When the leading end of the work enters the throat between rolls 62 and 64 of the straightening machine, the work is immediately given a rotary motion, with the result that the jaws 43 and 46 are caused to slide with respect to their supporting slide blocks 32 and 45, respectively. As shownin Fig.2, the rotation of the work is counterclockwise and under this motion jaw 43 rises and jaw 46 descends. As jaw 46 descends, it closes contacts 31, which immediately activate an electrical circuit controlling cylinders 34 and 56. The cylinder pistons move in opposite directions and withdraw the sliding blocks and jaws from the whipping zone of the rotating work. The circuits controlling the retraction of the slid- S ing blocks are provided with means for enabling the operator to elfect. their withdrawal at will, and also in case of failure of the automatic release. The work continues on through the straightening machine and the carriage may then be caused to move rearward towards the entry table and into position for gripping a succeeding piece of work.

The electrical circuits and piping arrangement by which the various cylinders are controlled are illustrated in Fig. 5.

The operation of the feeding apparatus is electrically controlledand. a push button panel 69 is provided whereby an operator may control thevarious operations. All of the push buttons are connected at one side to a bus 10. Buttons H and 12 are employedto control the movement of the carriage. For moving the carriage rearwardly button Ii is pressed to close a circuit from bus I0, through line It, solenoid 14, line 15 to bus 18. The solenoid I4 actuates the 4-way valve 26 and introduces pressure to the forward end of cylinder 19, while at the same time exhausting the rearward end of the cylinder. After the leading end of the work piece has been gripped, the carriage is moved forwardly by reversing the position of valve 28 and thereby app ing pressure to the rearward" end of the cylinder l9 while exhausting its forward end. This is ac complished by pressing button I2 which closes a circuit from .bus ll throughline I'I, solenoidlt, line 15 and bus 1!.

The movements of the slides 32 and-45 for grip to cause the release of the work whenever he might desire. The pressing of button .4 closes a circuit from bus ll, through line It, solenoid ll, line 85 to bus 16.

As has been explained hereinabove, it sometimes is desirable to move the gripped work to the left or to the right to center its leading end wi respect to the throat of the straightening machine. For moving to the left (Fig, push button 96 is depressed to close a circuit'from bus ll. through line 81, solenoid OI, line -lt, to bus It. The solenoid actuates the open 3-way valve 88 against the action of a spring and while ping and releasing a work piece are controlled by a solenoid-operated d-way -valve I! having con-. nection with a sourceof-pressure supply" and an exhaust II. the slides to move inwardly or towards each other, button I2 is depressed, therebyi closing a circuit from bus Ill, through line 83, solenoid 84, line 85 to bus 16. This causes valve 19 to be positioned to admit fluid pressure to conduit 86 which has connection with the outer ends of. cylinders 84 and 56 through 3.-way-valves 81 and .88, respectively, which are normally spring-held in open positions. At the same time the inner ends of cylinders 34 and Itrespectively, are exhausted through conduits 8' and it, both connecting with conduit SI and valve 10, which is disposed to connect conduit 9| with exhaust II. The cylinders cause the work to be r pped with sufficient force to drag the work forward into the straightening machine, but not strong enough to hold the work from turning in the jaws in case of failure of the automatic release. Eachof the valves 26 and I9 is such that upon momentary energization of either solenoid it is moved to the corresponding position, where it remains until the other solenoid isenergiaed.

When the work starts to rotate under the action of the straightening machine, the sliding movement of jaw 40 onsliding block 45 causes contacts 61 to close. This completes a circuit from bus Ill, through line 02, contacts 61, sole- For actuating the valve to cause the button is' depressed; positions the valve to close the conduit II to the cylinder It, and to bleed pressure from the outer end of cylinder It. Piston rod 60 is thereby permitted to move outwardly under the action of the counter pressure in the outer end of cylinder 14.

A similar control is provided for moving the gripped work to the right. A button I is provided for this purpose and when this button is pressed it closes a circuit from bu's ll through line It, solenoid I02, line II! tobus It. While the button is depressed, the action-of the solenoid operates the normally open 3-way valve 81 against its spring, to close the conduit .4 to the cylinder 34, and to bleed pressure from the outer end of cylinder 34, with the result that the slides 32 and and gripped work are moved to the right. The amount of movement of the gripped work to the left or to the right is dependent upon the selection and duration of closure of the respective press buttons 90 and I'll.

While the form of apparatus herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intendedto-conflne the invention tothe one form of embodiment herein vdisclosed,-for it it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. j

What is claim is:

l. Apparatus-for feeding elongated'cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, means for controllingreciprocation ofsaid carriage, means for gripping a work-piece mounted on said carriage and including jaws and jaw-supporting members, said supporting members being movable toward and away from each, other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage for causing the jaws to engage the work-piece, and said jaws being displaceable transversely with respect to the jaw-supporting members and the axis of the work-piece, means for operating said gripping means to cause said jaws to grip a work piece therebetween, and means for controlling said operating means for releasing said gripping means and jaws from work piece gripping position.

2. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, means for controlling reciprocation of said carriage, means for gripping a work-piece mounted on said carriage and including jaws and jaw-supporting members, said supporting members being movable toward and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage for causing the jaws to engage the work-piece, and said jaws being displaceable transversely with respect to the jaw.

mamas .to cause said jaws to grip a work piece therebetween, and means controlled by one of said jaws rection of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, means for controlling reciprocation of said carriage, a pair of slides mounted on said carriage and movable towards for releasing said gripping means from work 5 and away from each other laterally of the direcpiece engaging position upon displacement or the jaw under the action of a rotating work piece.

3. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, means for controlling re ciprocation of said carriage, a pair of slides mounted on said carriage and movable towards and away from each other laterally of the directionof movement of said carriage, means for grippinga work piece, said gripping means ineluding a jaw carried by each of said slides and mounted for movement relative to said slides under the action of a rotating work piece held therebetween, means for operating said slides to cause said jaws to grip a work piece therebetween, and means controlled by one of said jaws for eilecting actuation of said slides away from each other to release said jaws from work piece engaging position upon rotation of the work piece.

4. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piecethrough a straightening machine, means forcontrolling reciprocation of said carriage, a pair of slides mounted on said carriage and movable towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage, means for grippinga work piece, said gripping means including a jaw carried by each of said slides and mounted for displacement relative to said slides under the action of a rotating work piece gripped therebetween, fluid pressure operated means for advancing said slides and gripping means into work piece gripping position, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure means to efiect retraction of said slides and gripping means from work piece gripping position upon seizure and rotation of the work piece gripped thereby by a straightening machine.

5. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage-mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, means for controlling reciprocation of said carriage, a pair of slides mounted on said carriage and movable towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage, means for gripping a work piece, said gripping means including a jaw carried by each of said slides and mounted for displacement relatively to said slides under the action of a rotating work piece gripped therebetween, fluid" pressure operated; means for actuating said. slides and gripping means into work piece gripping position, means for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure means automatically to eifect retraction of said slides and gripping means from work piece gripping position upon seizure and rotation of the work piece gripped thereby by a straightening machine, and means operable at the will of an operator for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure means to retract said slides and gripping means from work gripping position.

6. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprisin a carriage mounted for movement in the dition of movement of said carriage, work piece gripping means carried by said slides, fluid pressure operated means for advancing said slides and gripping means into work piece gripping position, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means to change the lateral position of said slides and gripping means to center the lead end of a work piece .held thereby in respect to the throat of a straightening machine.

7. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work piecesto a straightening machine, com-,

prising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the travel of said carriage, a pair of slides mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said v carriage, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the positions of said slides with respect to each other, means for grippin a work piece, said gripping means including a jaw carried by each of said slides and mounted for displacement under the action of a rotating work piece gripped therebetween, and means for controlling the operation of said last-named fluid pressure means to move said slides away from each other to release said gripping means from work piece engaging position.

8. Apparatus for feedin elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the travel of said carriage, a pair of slides mounted on said carriage for, movement towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the positions of said slides with respect to each other, means for grippinga work piece, said gripping means comprising a jaw carried by each of said slides and mounted thereon for dis placement under the action of a rotating work piece gripped therebetween, and means operated by one of said jaws for causing the operation of said last-named fluid pressure means to move said slides and jaws away from each other to release said gripping means from work piece engaging position upon rotation of a work piece held by said'jaws.

9. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, com- 0 prising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of awork piece through a straightening machine, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the travel of said carriage, means for gripping a work piece, said means being mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage, jaws mounted on said gripping means for engaging a work piece, said jaws being displaceable transversely the axis of a work piece therebetween, fluid pressure oper- ,75 to release said gripping means and jaws from work piece gripping position upon movement of saldjaws under the action of a rotating work piece. I

10. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, means for operating said carriage, electrically controlled means for controlling the operation of said carriage operating means, members mounted on said carriage and movable towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of travel of said carriage, jaws for gripping a work piece, said jaws being slidably mounted on said members for movement in planes parallel to the axis of a work piece between the jaws, fluid pressure operated means for moving said members and jaws into and out of work piece gripping positions, electrically controlled means for effecting operation of said fluid pressure operated means, and means controlled by one of said jaws to efl'ect operation of said fluid pressure operated means and retract said members and jaws from work piece gripping position upon initiation of rotation of a work piece gripped by said jaws.

11. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the movement of said carriage, electrically controlled means for controlling the fluid pressure in said last-named means, members mounted on said carriage and movable towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of travel of said carriage, gripping means for gripping a work piece, said gripping means being carried by said members and adapted to seize a work piece, fluid pressure operated means for moving said members and gripping means into and out of work piece gripping positions, electrically controlled means for effecting operation of said last-named fluid pressure operated means, and means automatically to effect retraction of said gripping means from work piece gripping position upon initiation of rotation of a work piece gripped by said gripping means.

12. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to a straightening machine, comprising a carriage mounted for movement in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, fluid pressure operated means for controlling the movement of said carriage, electrically controlled means for controlling the fluid pressure in said last-named means, members mounted on said carriage and movable towards and away from each other laterally of the direction of movement of said carriage, gripping means for gripping a work piece, said gripping means being carried by said members and adapted to seize a work piece, fluid pressure operated means for moving said members and gripping means into and out of work piece gripping position, and electrically controlled means for eifecting operation of said last-named fluid pressure operated means to displace a work piece gripped by said gripping means in a direction laterally to the axis of said work piece.

13. Apparatus for feeding an elongated cylindrical work piece to the throat of rotating rolls of a straightening machine, the combination comprising gripping members for seizing a work piece, means permitting relative movement between a seized work piece and said gripping members to release said gripping members from seizing relationship with said work piece, means for advancing said gripping members and a seized work piece in the direction of travel of a work piece through a straightening machine, and means initiated into action by the rotation of the seized work piece upon entrance of the same to the throat of the rotating rolls of a straightening machine to relieve said gripping members from seizing relationship with the work piece.

14. Apparatus for feeding elongated cylindrical work pieces to the rolls of a straightening machine, which, upon gripping a. work piece, act to rotate it substantially about its longitudinal axis, comprising means for gripping a work piece, means permitting relative movement between a seized work piece and said gripping means to release said gripping means from seizing relationship with said work piece, means for advancing said gripping means and a work piece forwardly into said straightening machine, and means actuated by the rotation of a work piece after it has been engaged by the rolls of the straightening machine for automatically releasing the gripping engagement of the first-named means, whereby said work piece is thereafter drawn through said straightening machine by the rolls thereof engaging said work piece.

DWIGHT J. PERDUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,738,340 Woodard Dec. 3, 1929 1,758,563 Donner May 13, 1930 2,067,626 Benninghofl' Jan. 12, 1937 2,389,556 Siegerist Nov. 20, 1945 

